MANY ATTENDANTS FOR QUEEN ELIZABETH AT CORONATION CEREMONY

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 44, 8 March 1937, Page 11

MANY ATTENDANTS FOR QUEEN ELIZABETH AT CORONATION CEREMONY

From many aspects the coronation ivill be a gorgeous spectacle and the presence of Queen Elizabeth will enhance the pageantiy at Wostminster Abbey and on the processional route to a degree that few imagine. Her Majesty, in fact, will have a corjonation pageant all to kerseif. Four Duchessi u, six daughters of earls, and 11 other ladies of aristocratic birth will provide tlie setting in which sho will move as the centre ligure as First Lady of the Land No picture like it will have been seen in Eiigland for 26 years. First of her attendants will be the Mistress of the Itobes, usually a Duchess. It is likely that the Queen will choose the Ducliess of Bucc.euclij (sis-ter-in-law of the Duchess of Gloui'ester) for this most responsible position. When the bells have rung out, the salutes have /been fired, and His Majesty} duly anointed and consecrated, is seated on his Tlirone, the great moment of Queen Elizabeth's life will strike. Four Duchesses will hold a cloth-of-go-ld canopy over her as she kneels at the altar. The Archbishop of Canterbury will anoint her. Her crown, with tlie giittering Koh-i-noor and the lesser stars of Afcrica, will then be placed on her head. Peeresses taking the signal wiil put on their coronets. Afterwards, the Queen's ring will be placed on the fourth finger of her right liand, and her sceptre of gold and precious stones, with a mound and cross at the top issuing from a fleur-de-lys, will be put into her right hand." Into the left will be given the ivory rod with a white enamelled dove at the liead. Now comes the most graceful period of the ceremony. Tlie Queen will pass from the altar to her throne beside the King's, but on a dais two steps lower. As slie passcs the King; her train outspread, she will make a deep obeisanGe. Then will come six earls' daugliters to carry the Queen's train. Although none of them has yet been chosen, it is likely that they will be friends of the Queen, and tlierefoTe young. After them will come two Ladies of the Bed-ckamber-in-Waiting, then six Maids oi Honour, then two Women of the Bedchamber. All these ladies will drive in coaches to the Abbey, with a resplendent escort of Life Guards. They will form part of the Queen's procession, and will be in thedr places before the arrival of the King, who, of course, will be crowned first. Comes then the celebration of Holy Communion, after which the King and Queen will pass into St Edward's Ckapel, where the King will change the heavy erown of St. Edward for a smaller one, and his cloth-of-gold robes for those of crimsBn and ermine. A kalf-houy's rest, and then Their Majesties will walk down the aisle. The Coronation will be over. Among the ladies whose names have been mentioned as those of the fortunate ones who will attend the Queen are: — Lady Doris Vyner, sister of the Duke of Richmond ; Lady Annaly, daughter of the Earl of Spencer ; Lady Katherine Seymour, a daughter of the Duke of Abercorn; and Lady Hambleden, only daughter of the Earl of Pembroke. The Duchess of Norfolk will probably be on© of the chosen Duchesses.